Senior Mat Core

Fitness - Non-Water | Registration opens 1/8/2025 9:00 AM EST

9000 Babcock Blvd Allison Park, PA 15101 United States
Conference Room A
2/5/2025-4/23/2025
11:00 AM-11:45 AM EST on Wed

Senior Mat Core

Fitness - Non-Water | Registration opens 1/8/2025 9:00 AM EST

This is a mat core class that will focus on strengthening the core as well as the back and the glutes. Please note, we will get on the mat once and get off the mat once.

The core acts as the central foundation of our body, providing stability, balance, and support during everyday movements and physical activities. By strengthening the core, you will reap a multitude of benefits, including:

1. Better Balance

The core is at the center of your entire body. People often refer to the midsection as the “trunk” and like any good tree trunk, a strong core will help the rest of your body stand firm.

2. Simplifies Daily Tasks

We use our core every single day. You engage these muscles every time you sit, stand, pick up a grocery bag, bend down to tie your shoes, or swing a tennis racket. These simple tasks get more strenuous as we age. Incorporating core strengthening exercises will help build stronger muscles that make these tasks easier, regardless of your age.

3. Promotes Better Posture

Since weak core muscles contribute to slouching, strengthening your core will minimize the slouch, and in turn, provide a stronger foundation that will lessen the wear and tear on the spine and allow you to breathe deeply. Good posture will also help you gain full benefits from the effort you put into exercising.

4. Reduces Pain

Most active aging adults accept that minor aches and pains are part of getting older, but that does not have to be the case. As core strength improves, the pain may subside.

5. Helps With Coordination

Coordination relies on having a strong core. You need flexibility and strength to do any twists or turns with your body. Implementing core workouts into your exercise routine will help you build a solid foundation for your body and allow you to move more freely.


This is a low impact and intensity class. Participants must be able to get down on the floor once and get up from the floor once. Participants should bring a mat to class. They are encouraged to bring a booty band as well, but the instructor will provide guidance for the first week.

Melissa Petro

Melissa Petro’s passion for fitness sparked during my college years and it continues to grow each day. I enjoy working with people over the age of 50, because I believe age and life circumstance should not dictate what a person can and cannot do. I find great value in functional fitness programs and believe strongly in improving movement patterns, coordination and mobility as well as developing a strong Core. It’s a wonderful feeling when my clients tell me how these strength programs are changing their lives for the better! 

Along with my Master’s degree, I have a variety of certifications, including Certified Functional Aging Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Group Exercise Instructor, Certified Stretch and Flexibility Coach, Certified Senior Specialist, and Master Certified Health and Wellness Coach. 

My two sons keep me quite busy with sports, so it’s quite common to find me on the football or baseball field. In my free time, I love spending time outdoors hiking and mountain biking with my family and our three dogs. I also love spending time at the beach and traveling to new destinations.